NewsLine staff
The Fernandina Beach City Commission adopted its final fiscal year 2026-27 budget and operating millage rate Sept. 15, voting to add $25,000 for the Nassau County Council on Aging after commissioners said Nassau County had cut the nonprofit’s funding.
Commissioners set the operating millage rate at 4.853 mills, 9.24% above the 4.4425 rollback rate, adopting Resolution 2026-117 on a 4-1 vote, with Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue casting the dissenting vote. City Manager Sarah Campbell told the commission all 30 city funds are balanced and the city met its mandatory 20% general fund reserve requirement. The city’s total budget across all funds is $228 million, including $93 million held in reserve, mostly for pension and fiduciary funds. The general fund grew from $45 million to $50 million. Commissioners then adopted the final budget, Resolution 2026-118, on a 5-0 vote.
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Tell Us →Commissioner Joyce Tuten asked the board to move $25,000 from the city’s contingency fund to the Nassau County Council on Aging, saying the nonprofit had lost funding and staff positions after Nassau County cut its budget. Commissioner Genece Minshew initially asked the commission to wait until after the Nov. 3 vote on a statewide homestead exemption amendment before committing additional money, saying the outcome could affect the city’s own finances next year. Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue said he supported the funding whether it happened immediately or after the November vote, saying he did not want to pull support from local nonprofits without notice. Commissioners voted to move the $25,000 immediately and folded it into the final budget as an amendment.
Tuten walked through several budget details during the meeting. She said the city eliminated a $700,000 marina management contract by bringing operations in-house with new city staff, saving about $60,000 while adding three full-time and seven part-time positions funded through the marina’s enterprise fund rather than taxes. She said the city is down about 21.5 positions in tax-funded departments since fiscal year 2024-25, even as it added positions in fee-funded areas like stormwater and a new chief resiliency officer role. Tuten said the city faces about $2.3 million in added costs this year from inflation in categories including salaries, workers’ compensation and fuel.
During public comment, resident George Sirota asked about a 21.5% increase in the city manager’s department budget. Campbell said the increase largely reflects shifting a capital project manager position, previously split between two departments, fully into the city manager’s office.
The city will host a public information session on the marina redevelopment project at 2 p.m. today, Sept. 16, at City Hall Commission Chambers, 204 Ash St., according to a city announcement. The project is intended to strengthen the seawall, improve public access to the riverfront, enhance marina operations and create a more resilient waterfront, funded through a mix of local revenue and state and federal grants. Updates are posted at fbfl.us/projects.
Watch the full meeting at fernandinabeachfl.new.swagit.com/videos/401053
